Rio and Anton Ferdinand also take to Twitter to criticise UEFA's sanctions - as Wembley suits ponder appeal against bans handed to Caulker and Ince

England are considering boycotting future games in Serbia after UEFA caused outrage by dishing out paltry punishments.

Incredibly, European football’s governing body imposed bans on England Under-21 stars Steven Caulker and Thomas Ince, who were racially abused by home fans, together with “disappointing” punishments against the Serbian FA.

Four Serbian players have been banned and two of their coaches have been suspended for two years.

Serbia have also been ordered to play their next competitive Under-21 match behind closed doors and have been fined £65,000.

But it was still nowhere near enough for the Football Association as general secretary Horne, who expressed his anger at the ­punishments handed down and insisted that the FA would appeal.

The incidents came after the England Under-21 side’s victory in Serbia in October, when a game marred by racist chanting was followed by shocking violence at the final whistle, with players attacked and missiles thrown.

Horne said: “The scenes were deplorable and we were hoping for a strong message to be sent out, so we are very ­disappointed.

“It’s a hypothetical question at the moment about playing there but we would need assurances about safety before considering whether we would play there again in the future.

“It is the FA’s vehement belief that its players and staff acted correctly in the face of ­provocation, including racist abuse and missiles being thrown.

“We are therefore surprised to see that two of our players have been given suspensions. We shall await UEFA’s reasoning but it is our intention, at this stage, to support our players and appeal these decisions.”

Reuters

Nutter: England U21s' coach Martin Thomas was butted by a member of the Serbia staff

Spurs’ Caulker was handed a two-game ban and ­Blackpool winger Ince was suspended for one game. Sunderland’s Danny Rose will also serve a ban, having been sent off after the final whistle.

The FA are furious that their players have been punished even though TV pictures showed that the Serbian fans, players and staff sparked the scenes.

It left England’s players shell-shocked after the horrendous match and Rose admitted he was left worried about his own safety after the “appalling abuse” was levelled at him.

Serbia fitness coach Andreja ­Milunovic, who attacked England officials, was banned for two years, the second of which was suspended for three years, while Serbia assistant coach Predrag Katic was also banned for two years, the final six months of which suspended for three years.

Four Serbia players were also banned: Goran Causic for four matches, Ognjen Mudrinski and Filip Malbasic for three and Nikola Ninkovic for two.

But the level of the fine and only one game to be played behind closed doors is what has really upset the FA, which believes it is not enough of a deterrent for the future.

The £65,000 fine is £15,000 LESS than that levelled on Nicklas Bendtner for revealing sponsored pants in the Euros.

Rio Ferdinand has launched a furious attack on UEFA for being out of touch on racism.

The Manchester United defender slammed European football’s governing body over the punishments it handed out over England Under-21s' game in Serbia.

Former England captain ­Ferdinand tweeted: “Uefa are not serious at all on racism. Fines do not work at all. They have zero impact on federations/clubs/fans/players. Uefa need to talk to this ­generation... they don’t seem to be up to date on this issue??

“Harsh punishments needed as a ­deterrent.”

Uefa are not serious at all on racism. Fines do not work at all. They have zero impact on federations/clubs/fans/players. #fact

The FA said they would appeal against a two-match ban for Spurs defender Caulker and ­Blackpool winger Ince’s one-game suspension.

But it was the level of the ­punishment imposed on the Serbian FA that caused outrage.

October’s game was marred by racism and objects being thrown and ended with England players and staff being attacked on the pitch.

QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, involved in a racism row with John Terry last season, tweeted: “Wow UEFA ain’t serious with there (sic) ­punishment. So showing a sponsor is worse than racism and fighting!”

Sports minister Hugh Robertson, who had written to UEFA president Michel Platini demanding tough action for the racist abuse, said: “I am disappointed in the punishment given the widespread racist abuse that England’s Under-21 team suffered that night.

“Racism is completely unacceptable and we need tough sanctions to help combat it.”

Troy Townsend, of anti-racism group Kick It Out, said Serbia had again got away with “a slap on the wrist”.

England legend Gary Lineker joined the condemnation on Twitter saying: “Uefa confirming once again they have no teeth when it comes to standing up to racism. They could make a real difference but never do.”

Lord Herman Ouseley, chairman of football’s ­anti-discrimination group Kick It Out, slammed the sanction as “paltry”. He said: “Kick It Out shares the concerns of many in football that abuse aimed at black players isn’t taken seriously enough. This is a paltry slap on the wrist. We haven’t seen decisive action from UEFA.”

England Under-21 head coach Stuart Pearce said: “I am concerned to see our players suspended by UEFA and we will continue to support them.

“I maintain that our players played no part in the aggression. From what I witnessed our players and staff were forced to protect themselves in the violent scenes that followed the game.”

Serbian FA secretary general Zoran Lakovic appeared to suggest that the UEFA official prosecuting the charges had also demanded tougher action.

Lakovic said in a statement: "If we take into account what the drastic proposed penalty by the disciplinary inspector Jean-Samuel Leube we have not been hit so hard.

"I believe that this is a final warning to all of us who work in Serbian football, including coaches and players and fans, because for even the smallest mistake UEFA can now impose the most rigorous punishment."

Piara Powar, executive director of European anti-discrimination body FARE, said UEFA had failed to display the necessary leadership.

Powar said: "We are disappointed in the totality of the sanction handed out to the Serbian FA. The original offences warranted a more severe collective punishment than a ban on spectators for one match.

"This is a moment in which leadership to challenge discrimination is needed from all authorities. This sanction falls short of that objective.

In relation to Ince and Caulker's bans, the FA said they were surprised at the action and that the players had merely protected themselves.

Horne added: "It is the FA's vehement belief that its players and staff acted correctly in the face of provocation, including racist abuse and missiles being thrown.

"We are therefore surprised to see that two of our players have been given suspensions. We shall await UEFA's reasoning but it is our intention, at this stage, to support our players and appeal these decisions."

Serbia and the FA have three days in which to lodge an appeal - while UEFA themselves can also appeal against the control and disciplinary body if they too think the independent commission have been too lenient.